Future Leaders in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

The Cornell FLAME Summer Program provides students a unique opportunity to launch into a Ph.D. program through enhanced summer research experience and through a subsequent fast-tracked/prioritized admission into the Sibley School's Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering with tailored programmatic and financial support.
Seven people stand side-by-side in a row outside of Upson Hall. The people are Professor Nelly Andarawis-Puri and six members of the FLAME program

Designed for students interested in:

  • Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

  • Biomechanics

  • Bioengineering

  • Energy and Sustainability

  • Robotics and Autonomy

  • Space Science and Engineering

The FLAME program is designed to advance student access to research experiences and graduate study in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Admission to FLAME is available on a competitive basis to domestic students who will be eligible to apply to graduate school by fall 2025 and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous peoples of Canada eligible to register as U.S. domestic students under the Jay Treaty, or students holding DACA, TPS, refugee, or asylee status. Applications from students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in engineering are especially encouraged.

Summer Program Highlights

  • Academic preparation for graduate school
  • Opportunity to cultivate a relationship with your potential future Ph.D. advisor
  • Assistance with preparation of applications to Ph.D. programs (Cornell or other)
  • $6,300 stipend, $500 of travel support, on-campus housing, meal plan, and local transport included
  • Social events and trips

Sibley School Ph.D. Program

  • Waived GREs
  • Waived application fee to Sibley School Ph.D. program
  • Direct match into Ph.D. lab if desired
  • $1,250 towards professional development (e.g., laptop, professional clothes) available after matriculating

Application

  • Program dates

    June 8-August 8, 2025

  • Deadline

    First round of applications are due February 10, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis after.

  • Eligibility

    Applicants should be:

    • Ambitious and hard-working
    • Have two semesters remaining in their undergraduate education at the start of the summer program
    • Majoring in a STEM discipline
    • In good academic standing
    • A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Indigenous person of Canada eligible to register as U.S. domestic students under the Jay Treaty, or students holding DACA, TPS, refugee, or asylee status

     

  • Requirements

    Applicants must meet one or more of the following:

    Experienced situations or conditions that impacted your advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field, including but not limited to:

    • Being a first-generation college student
    • Managing a disability or chronic health condition
      Experiencing housing, food, economic, and/or other forms of significant insecurity.
    • Demonstrated commitment to address the barriers that prevent participation of students from historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs.
    • Demonstrated commitment to address the barriers that prevent participation of students from historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs.
    • Demonstrated leadership potential to address the issues of underrepresentation of domestic minorities in STEM fields.
    • Attended a minority-serving institution (HBCU, HSI, or Tribal College)
Students present during Cornell SmallSat Mission Design School
Bill Nye and Smith Charles talk about various mechanical devices sitting on a table
A woman smiles as she listens to another woman amid a crowd.

Guidelines

  • Academic and Research Statement of Interest

    Describe in no more than 500 words the following:

    • motivation for applying to FLAME
    • the areas of research in mechanical and/or aerospace engineering of greatest interest
    • prior research and/or related academic or professional experiences and achievements
    • how participation in FLAME would help advance your educational and career goals

     

  • Personal Statement

    (3 pages max.) Must address both:

    • Describe your research interests, advanced degree plan and explanation of how this research opportunity relates to your career goals and academic plan; AND
    • Discuss one of your lived experiences and how it will contribute to FLAME’s diverse scholarly community. Some topics to consider:
      • Having experienced situations or conditions that impacted your advancement or ability to advance in a STEM field;
      • Having demonstrated a commitment to addressing the barriers that prevent participation of historically underrepresented groups in graduate STEM programs;
      • Having demonstrated leadership potential to address issues of domestic minorities in STEM fields.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    We require two letters of recommendation. Applicants are responsible for providing their recommenders with the link to our Recommender Form.

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